New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-07-17
THE THEATRES.
COME FLOATING GOSSIP.


\, Tvertv-tbird-st about midway between Broad
way and Fourtb-ave, +. II. sothsrn, she young
conedisn, has quartered himself tor the iast 10"
months He was found the other dav oy visitor'
who disco yered him azy spending the hours between
breakfast and luncheon in the depths OF an easy
chair arrayed in BAHAMAS and trying 70 Imagine that
the thermometer was not over 900 in tho shade. -
am eagerly looking forward said he to the end Oh
the week. and feel much used to at schooi Just Dc
fore broke up and when we used 10 marx on Oh inc
wall each day of the expiring halt have suffered
terribly during the last few weeks and only hope that
NV audiences had lots OF good natur& SOtherwise
am afraid they must have looked upon IT o % doihs
them personal injury. Putting Jesflng ASIDE now
ever need not tell You how rejo'ced was al TIE
snecess of our little comedy. We had intended to
c,ose ON the first OF this month but business was
really too GOOD permit US TO dream OF suoh thin2'
aud the closing OF the theatre now We look on as
mere vacation. as 1t were, which nara WORK mas
rendered nece .sary tor all Of When begin again
in month or so shall have a company which Is TO be
with me during my tour through the country, WHICH
begins in October and ends in March or April VIII
of necessity be short season. for have TO get bsck
in time to rehearse the new coined, whatever II may
be- with which am to open the spring season CT tne
Lyceum Theatre"
Mr.. sothern called his visitors attention to three
enormous iron-clamped truaks, somewhat rusty ana
the worse tor wear which stood about the room, I'M
peding to certain extent ires loeomotion therein'
The room il NAV be said, is pleasing sitting-roop,
which bears eyder the profession OF its owner IN
the quantity OF theatrical photographs and bricaorac
which are TO be in every nook ana corner hang
ing on the wall are a couple vi crossed swords ana
forming with them an artistic little group Is stick,
the head OF which to the visitor somewh nat
familiar Ii is the CAGE used by Mr. sothern In me
Love Chase the head Of il Is an exqusitely carved
elephants head in ebony with tusks OF cleaning ivory
This he had specially made for the part though as 70
the cost of It. his remained ds,reetly silent But to
return to the trunks I" My brother sam, ssid hr.
Sothern, has just brought those from England,
where they had been stored since my fathers death
they full OF manuscript plays some Oh % %
never seen the light and some OF which nave been
acted with either success failure. Out OF this mass
of material hope to be able to find something which
will suit nv purpose. Whatever we may decide upon
for roduoon will OF course, have to be touched up
and modernized. as was done with The Highest
Bidder To show Won how much was done upon tnst
nIav here il letter 1 received some time ago from
Howard p Taylor the author of 'Csprice. In 10 ne
saws IL at he todnd in drawer IN California theatre
a printed play, evidently belonging 70 ~ iatoef.
which he sent me bearing some Resemblance TO
sThe Highest Bidder In point OF fact, what ne sent
wa, the play as stood before We set to work on the
alteration Ii seems curious, does t not that the gov.
ernor should have left such mass OF manuscripts OF
which he apparently made no use lie was aIHsTs
interested however when any one came to him with
tine ,dsa he Of would pi~ pms begin Offering
and advising the construction VI the play. ineu
when the play actually written think he ie't he
ought TO buy it, even though he had no intention OF
Immediately using it.
IA Mr. Sotbern 81 oke the strains OF an organ came
from below. You see," said the comedian. 1 am
not un provided with musical accompaniment to my
musings. The rooms below are occupied by some
organ merchants; but l do not much object to the
so1ndt is at all events better than the piano Nellie
NcHenry who used to live n few doors above hero
over piano store, suffered the fortunes OF the con-
demned In her usual CHEEKY way, however, she made
ioks Of it, and used describe her horrors trcken
feeling, when che heard the proprietor rumble out IN
deep bass voice John varnish Mr. smith, leg. ana
L.~ rlvf l,fa att fDuE her
some time to see that the legs of Mrs Smiths piano
were thus ambiguously referred to-
Speaking OF his plans tor the immediat" future, Mr.
Sothern said that ho was goiag down TO spend Ibis
holiday at the Highlands, where lac and his brother
have taken a cottage. any brother, by the way" bs
added is going to remain permanently 10 America.
He will probably travel with this season. and then
think he ought to enter some Legitimate company tor
a couple Of years or 30; The training Is absolutely
necessary for actor and shall never re ret the two
Seasons spent my self in John McCuloughs company.
OF course the great difficulty adays IA for young
felo to gain useful theories, and think the present
acknoyle.lged dearth of leading men Is principally
due to this 1t seems TO me that every year
sees fewer good leading men at tho serv cc OF the
manager Whether 10 IL the ,use or elect do not
Snow but IL seems tn me. in addition TO this, that
many OF the newest and most successful plays do not
require the services OF the leading man, properly so
called The character actor II appears TO me- Is rap
idly becoming the most important member oil CON-
pany."
OF course il was natural that the subject Of Mr..
her manager should DO referred to. IL an very
glad, said Mr.. Sothern |" that some agreement has
been cvme TO, TOR nothing think, could compensate
me or the worry OF mind the disc Ission caused me-
do not blame Miss Dauvray at all in the matter; she
has always treated with exceptional Kindness and
I cannot help thinking that In this instance she was
badly advised. Though i am ms say. glad to have
the matter settled not at all anxious TO travel
on NV own account this season, and Mr.. Frohman, on
his part not at all prepared to assume the respon
sibility OF my management. would llke 10 say that
the coo paid for my release was pad by me out oil
y own pocket and not, as people seem to suppose,
by Mr.. Frshman. To a young man IN my position
81 900 il good deal OF money, and had IN fact TO
borrow IL from friend. would, however, nave
borrowed and paid more, In order to get rid OF
the embarrassment and annoyance OF the whole
affair."
The present tendency Of the theatrical managers
during the summer evidently In the direction
of spectacular performances In the air. And as
each new manager ranges himself In the line of such
performances, he seeks 10 surDass and Guido the
achievements of his predecessors. The most recent
addition to the number Of those who deem quantity to
be tho summer substitute tor quality IL Boioesy
Kirslfy Besides preparing tor the production OF
Dorores he has, during the last few days. became
the pro jector OF q mammoth entertainment to no
called 1.-THE Siege OF Troy" il will be given on an
improvised stage having height OF nity iset and
Helen will be narrated, and Prinm Hector, Ulysses,
Menelans and other Homeric heroes will be intro
duced The OF the departure OF the Greek galley
Europe The scenery painted by the artist OF the
Hot Theatre, Mu nich. IL In expected that ,ZoO
persons dane ers and supernnmerares will par cipate
In The Siege OF Troy" which will be presented In
about three weeks.
Since the first night Of Mr. Manshelds little sketch.
which he has modestly pat forward under the title OF
4 - Ia